An examination of the legal framework of the EU internal market as established in the case law of the European Court of Justice, discussing in particular EC competition law, the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital and the evolution of the interpretation of the provisions. The 'State' has been retreating from direct intervention in economic life as more goods and services, the provision of which was once thought to be a 'public' responsibility, are delivered through market mechanisms. Given the need for consistent application of EC law in the internal market, a common core conception of public authority, shielded from the discipline of EC competition law, is needed. The resulting realignment of public and private functions and responsibilities is not a linear and coherent process, especially in light of the changing nature of the European legal integration project and the progressive incorporation of non-economic values in the Treaties.
Author(s): Wolf Sauter, Harm Schepel
Series: Cambridge Studies in European Law and Policy
Edition: 1
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 270
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 4
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 12
European Court of Justice......Page 13
Court of First Instance......Page 23
1 Introduction......Page 25
1.1. The economy in European constitutionalism......Page 26
1.2. Approaches to the European Economic Constitution......Page 35
1.3. Blurring the distinction between the public and private spheres of the economy......Page 43
1.4. The public/private distinction before the EU Courts: research questions and approach......Page 46
Part I Economic Activities v. the Exercise of Public Authority......Page 51
2.1. The interplay of prohibitions and justifications under the free movement rules......Page 53
The scope of Article 28......Page 57
The scope of the other freedoms......Page 59
The European social model and the fundamental freedoms......Page 61
The justification regime under the fundamental freedoms......Page 63
2.2. State measures and the concept of 'public bodies' under the free movement provisions......Page 67
2.3. 'Public bodies' under secondary law......Page 70
2.4. Public authority exceptions to free movement under primary law......Page 84
2.5. Public authority exceptions to free movement under secondary law......Page 90
2.6. Conclusion......Page 97
3.2. The concept of 'undertaking' under the competition rules......Page 99
3.3. Economic activities of an industrial or a commercial nature......Page 103
3.4. The public authority task......Page 107
3.5. An exclusively social function: solidarity......Page 109
3.6. Restrictive agreements between undertakings falling outside the scope of the competition rules......Page 114
3.7. Delegation of public authority......Page 117
3.8. Conclusion......Page 118
4.1. Introduction......Page 121
4.2. The application of the free movement rules to private parties......Page 122
4.3. The application of competition rules to State measures......Page 128
4.4. Attribution to the State or to undertakings......Page 144
4.5. Free movement or competition rules?......Page 148
4.6. Conclusion......Page 152
Part II The Public Private Interface: Articles 31, 86 and 87-88 EC......Page 153
5.1. Introduction......Page 155
5.2. Delegation, sub-delegation and private agreements under Article 31 EC......Page 157
5.3. Free movement and Article 31 EC......Page 158
5.4. State aids and Article 31 EC......Page 160
5.5. Public interest exceptions and Article 31 EC......Page 161
5.6. Proportionality under Article 31 EC......Page 163
5.7. Conclusion......Page 164
6.2. The role and structure of Article 86 EC......Page 166
6.3. Public undertakings, special and exclusive rights......Page 169
6.4. The legality of monopoly rights......Page 171
6.5. The prohibition on abuse of statutory monopoly rights......Page 172
6.6. General public interest defences under Article 86(1) EC......Page 176
6.7. Convergence between free movement and competition rules under Article 86 EC......Page 178
6.8. Delegation of regulatory functions under Article 86 EC......Page 179
6.9. Pre-emption under Article 86 EC?......Page 183
6.10. Conclusion......Page 186
7.1. Introduction......Page 188
7.2. The role and structure of Article 86(2) EC......Page 191
7.3. Article 86(2) EC derogation and direct effect......Page 193
7.4. The scope of the Article 86(2) EC derogation......Page 195
7.5. Services of general 'economic' interest......Page 196
7.6. Proportionality and Article 86(2) EC......Page 203
7.7. 'Pre-emption' and Article 86(2) EC......Page 206
7.8. Private restraints on competition and Article 86(2) EC......Page 211
7.9. Article 86(2) EC and State aid......Page 213
7.10. Conclusion......Page 215
8.1. Introduction......Page 217
8.2. Public or private bodies......Page 218
8.3. Public or private funds......Page 220
8.4. General measures and State aid......Page 223
8.5. Public and private investors......Page 228
8.6. State aid and other internal market rules......Page 231
8.7. Conclusion......Page 234
9 Conclusion......Page 235
References......Page 246
Index......Page 263
